Army Exercise Training

The U.S. Army requires every soldier to to pass the Army Physical Fitness Test, also known as the APFT, two times each year. In order to pass, each soldier must score a minimum of 60 points in each event for a minimum of 180 points. According to Military.com, the exercises are the 2-mile run, sit-ups and push-ups. Scores are bases on a point system and are determined by sex and age standards. Army exercises can be used by both soldiers preparing for the APFT or by civilians who have the desire to get into shape.

Obstacle Course and Circuits

Obstacle courses and circuit workouts test your cardiovascular endurance and speed while working all of the muscles in the body. In the Army, the obstacle course is designed to simulate actual combat scenarios and often includes weapon training. Both the stress capabilities of a solder as well as their physical training is tested in the course. According to the U.S. Army Fitness Training Handbook, common exercises include low crawls under barbed wire, rope climbs, wall climbs and push-ups. The Army trains soldiers using a phase system called crawl, walk and run. It begins by teaching the proper ways to do the exercises and constantly increases the load to prepare soldiers to pass the APFT and prepare for combat.

2-Mile Run

Most soldiers find the 2-mile run to be the most difficult APFT event. Speed and cardiovascular endurance are essential for a soldier in combat. To train the body to gain cardiovascular endurance, leaders overload obstacle courses, circuits, sprints, intervals, rucksack marches and runs. According to the U.S. Army Fitness Training Handbook, cardiovascular pain is unlike any other pain involved in exercise so the 2-mile run is often the one event that can make or break a soldier.

Sit-ups

Sit-ups test the endurance of both the abdominal muscles and hip flexors. According to Military.com, during the Army tests, a partner is used to secure the ankles of the trainee so his heels do not lift off of the ground. The Army uses a variety of techniques to overload the muscles and increase the number of sit-ups that can be performed. Sit-ups that are performed slowly increase the strength in the abdominal muscles. Performing this version of the sit-up gets painful during the downward portion of the exercise. To increase the muscular stamina and strength in the hip flexors, flutter kicks are used. The Army also employs the use of planks as an effective exercise that will increase endurance of the core muscles.

Push-ups

Push-ups are one of the most common exercises used for Army training. Push-ups use the large muscles in the upper body. The triceps, shoulders and chest are all tested for muscular endurance. The Army is always changing the techniques used for push-ups in an attempt to overload the muscles. According to the U.S. Army Fitness Training Handbook, some examples of these frequent changes include holding a deep position, using partner resistance, slowing the tempo or increasing the number of repetitions.

Overloading the Body

The Army uses training exercises that overload the body and place as much mental and physical stress as a person can handle. The Army Fitness Training Handbook states that the Army employs this technique in order to break the soldier down completely as an individual so that she can be rebuilt into a member of the team. In order to prepare for combat, the Army aims to prepare soldiers to maintain the highest physical fitness possible while under stress.